Articles
Analysis of pear sustainability: what are the limitations and opportunities?
Article number
1403_1
Pages
1 – 20
Language
English
Abstract
The global assortment of European pear cultivars is limited and comprised of mostly old cultivars.
This lack of variation is common in all countries where this crop is grown.
The ‘Williams’ (i.e., ‘Bartlett’) cultivar is an example, which, despite its origins dating back to 1765, is still one of the most produced in the world.
This lack of new products makes it challenging to expand consumption.
The consumer often perceives the pear as an outdated product.
Added to this varietal stagnation are the difficult environmental conditions of some growing regions that reduce fruit set and an increase in phytosanitary problems, such as the brown marmorated stink bug (Halymorpha halys), brown spot (Stemphyllium vesicarium), fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) and valsa (Valsa ceratosperma). The few still active breeding programs have produced cultivars resistant or tolerant to some of these biotic adversities, but despite this competitive advantage over traditional cultivars, they are struggling to establish themselves on the market.
Regardless of the limited number of cultivars utilized worldwide, pear presents many innovative training systems.
In Europe, dwarfing rootstocks have reduced planting distances and increased planting density.
Still, these systems’ economic sustainability is questionable due to increased production costs and lack of labor.
Many quince rootstocks have enabled a reduction in the size of the tree while introducing the concept of continuous row planting with the management of orchards from the ground.
Early cropping is essential to reach the break-even point since overhead costs cannot be cut beyond a certain threshold, and prices cannot be controlled.
The level of yield also becomes an important factor in defining economic sustainability.
Yields lower than 35-40 t ha‑1 can compromise the orchard’s profitability in several countries.
New climatic conditions and increasing disease pressure can jeopardize pear cultivation in many districts.
This lack of variation is common in all countries where this crop is grown.
The ‘Williams’ (i.e., ‘Bartlett’) cultivar is an example, which, despite its origins dating back to 1765, is still one of the most produced in the world.
This lack of new products makes it challenging to expand consumption.
The consumer often perceives the pear as an outdated product.
Added to this varietal stagnation are the difficult environmental conditions of some growing regions that reduce fruit set and an increase in phytosanitary problems, such as the brown marmorated stink bug (Halymorpha halys), brown spot (Stemphyllium vesicarium), fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) and valsa (Valsa ceratosperma). The few still active breeding programs have produced cultivars resistant or tolerant to some of these biotic adversities, but despite this competitive advantage over traditional cultivars, they are struggling to establish themselves on the market.
Regardless of the limited number of cultivars utilized worldwide, pear presents many innovative training systems.
In Europe, dwarfing rootstocks have reduced planting distances and increased planting density.
Still, these systems’ economic sustainability is questionable due to increased production costs and lack of labor.
Many quince rootstocks have enabled a reduction in the size of the tree while introducing the concept of continuous row planting with the management of orchards from the ground.
Early cropping is essential to reach the break-even point since overhead costs cannot be cut beyond a certain threshold, and prices cannot be controlled.
The level of yield also becomes an important factor in defining economic sustainability.
Yields lower than 35-40 t ha‑1 can compromise the orchard’s profitability in several countries.
New climatic conditions and increasing disease pressure can jeopardize pear cultivation in many districts.
Publication
Authors
S. Musacchi
Keywords
cultivar, rootstock, environmental conditions, frost damage, climate change
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